My NSV - Kilimanjaro
mfanyafujo
Posts: 232 Member
Hi everyone! I've been on MFP since March, and have had many small victories, including losing 12 pounds total (maybe more next time I see a scale) but this is the first time I've posted an NSV.
I'm an American, living in Tanzania, which is a wonderful country. We have Serengeti, Zanzibar, and, of course, Kilimanjaro. Somehow I got the crazy idea that I should climb it with two of my friends. We spent several months training (the area I live in is very flat, so my training was jumping rope and tons of squats).
Finally my friends arrived here and TZ and we began the big climb. Seven days total, five and a half up and one and a half down. The challenges were long hiking days, cold weather, very steep trails (up and down), and altitude sickness. Someone once told me "if you can walk, you can climb Kili," and I suppose that's true to some extent. Sure, you need physical fortitude, but mostly you need to be strong mentally.
Summit night is the worst part. We started climbing at midnight, and reached the summit at 7am. Yes, we climbed ALL night. Then we went back down, and down some more, and down a little further for good measure. In all, we hiked roughly 100 kilometers, most of it up or down. The highest point we reached was Uhuru peak, at about 19,000 feet.
Anyways, I'm proud of myself for finding the inner fortitude to keep going. The climb was beautiful, but the night summit was absolutely brutal. It was so amazing to reach the top and look out over the world. It felt a little bit like climbing out of hell. I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment, because despite serious temptation to go back to my snug sleeping bag, I kept going. I mean, I really wanted to quit. I wanted a warm bed, a hot shower, a decent meal and a foot massage - but I told myself to suck it up and keep climbing. That's really all it takes to reach any goal - keep going.
Thanks for reading. If anyone is traveling to TZ or thinking of climbing Kili, send me a message.
I'm an American, living in Tanzania, which is a wonderful country. We have Serengeti, Zanzibar, and, of course, Kilimanjaro. Somehow I got the crazy idea that I should climb it with two of my friends. We spent several months training (the area I live in is very flat, so my training was jumping rope and tons of squats).
Finally my friends arrived here and TZ and we began the big climb. Seven days total, five and a half up and one and a half down. The challenges were long hiking days, cold weather, very steep trails (up and down), and altitude sickness. Someone once told me "if you can walk, you can climb Kili," and I suppose that's true to some extent. Sure, you need physical fortitude, but mostly you need to be strong mentally.
Summit night is the worst part. We started climbing at midnight, and reached the summit at 7am. Yes, we climbed ALL night. Then we went back down, and down some more, and down a little further for good measure. In all, we hiked roughly 100 kilometers, most of it up or down. The highest point we reached was Uhuru peak, at about 19,000 feet.
Anyways, I'm proud of myself for finding the inner fortitude to keep going. The climb was beautiful, but the night summit was absolutely brutal. It was so amazing to reach the top and look out over the world. It felt a little bit like climbing out of hell. I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment, because despite serious temptation to go back to my snug sleeping bag, I kept going. I mean, I really wanted to quit. I wanted a warm bed, a hot shower, a decent meal and a foot massage - but I told myself to suck it up and keep climbing. That's really all it takes to reach any goal - keep going.
Thanks for reading. If anyone is traveling to TZ or thinking of climbing Kili, send me a message.
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Replies
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That is AMAZING!!! You should be SO proud of yourself! :drinker:0
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That is amazing! A huge victory. I admire your hard work and stamina!0
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Thanks you guys! It was so hard but so fun!0
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:flowerforyou: Amazingly inspiring. I would love to hear about more experiences like this.0
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absolutly wonderful!!0
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AMAZING! I live in SouthAfrica and dream of doing Kili one day! So happy for you!0
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that is a great story!! Thank you for sharing!! Quite an NSV!!!0
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Congratulations! I agree that any realistic goal can be accomplished if you just keep going whether it's climbing Kili, running a marathon or losing weight.0
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What a great experience!!! It is great motivation for the rest of us!0
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Thanks everyone!AMAZING! I live in SouthAfrica and dream of doing Kili one day! So happy for you!
We actually met quite a few South Africans on the climb. We went through a South African company to find our climbing guides as well, and it all worked out great. You're welcome to TZ!0 -
High five to someone else for knowing that Zanzibar is amazing. I went there while I was serving in the Peace Corps and it was the best vacation ever.
Congrats on summitting Kili- I have a friend who did a full Ironman and she said climbing Kili was the hardest thing she's ever done- so I am very impressed by your accomplishment!!!0 -
wow, awesome job! you are an inspiration to me!!0
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High five to someone else for knowing that Zanzibar is amazing. I went there while I was serving in the Peace Corps and it was the best vacation ever.
Congrats on summitting Kili- I have a friend who did a full Ironman and she said climbing Kili was the hardest thing she's ever done- so I am very impressed by your accomplishment!!!
Lol, we're on Zanzibar right now "recovering." :P Where did you serve in the PC?0 -
How fortunate to have such an iconic peak to climb so close to you. What an amazing achievement that you can look back on for the rest of your life & say "I did it!". I will have to look over my goals list & up the ante a little
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